“Win at any cost… throwing all norms to the winds” continues to be the bane of age-group championships.
The 33rd edition of the sub-junior National volleyball championship commenced at the Sree Kanteerava stadium indoor and outdoor courts, here on Monday with the shadow of the overage issue looming large. Twenty-three players in the boys' and 11 in the girls' sections were declared well above the certified age of under 16, by Dr. Kulkarni, after thorough screening here.
Chhattisgarh was the worst culprit in the boys' section with four overage players while defending champion Tamil Nadu (3), Andhra Pradesh (2), Kerala, Puducherry and host Karnataka (one each) were also guilty of the misdemeanour.
Among girls, Tamil Nadu had four players above the age bracket out of the 11 rejected.
On the court Punjab boys began sluggishly before quelling Maharashtra's challenge with a 27-29, 25-15, 25-21, 25-23 verdict, while champion for the last three years Tamil Nadu boys outclassed Goa in straight sets despite losing two top players.
The results: Boys: Pool A: Manipur bt Gujarat 25-19, 18-25, 25-18, 25-21; TN bt Goa 25-12, 25-8, 25-11; Uttarakhand bt Delhi 25-23, 25-12, 25-18.
Pool B: Punjab bt Maharashtra 27-29, 25-15, 25-21, 25-23; UP bt MP 25-18, 25-18, 25-20.
Pool C: AP bt Orissa 21-25, 25-19, 25-16, 25-14.
Pool D: J&K bt Tripura 25-7, 25-8, 25-8; Assam bt Chattisgarh 25-22, 25-10, 25-15; West Bengal bt Puducherry 22-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-12; Assam bt Puducherry 25-9, 25-17, 25-13.
Girls: Pool B: West Bengal bt Tripura 25-4, 25-1, 25-10.
Pool C: Assam bt Bihar 25-10, 25-20, 25-14.
Pool D: UP bt Chattisgarh 25-4, 25-10, 25-5; Maharashtra bt Orissa 25-9, 25-11, 25-20; AP bt Jharkhand 25-9, 25-11, 25-18.
